Jenny stared at the ceiling. “I hadn’t even thought about that. They came and went so fast, and they talked the whole time. They never even asked about us.”
Pulling the pins from her hair, Rebekah thought about the ladies. “You know, I wonder if they didn’t realize as soon as they sat down that they shouldn’t have intruded. It does make me feel better to know you’ll have other women nearby. I’m sure they will help ease your transition and settle in.”
Jenny didn’t respond. Rebekah removed her shoes then laid back, her mind still on Austin Hart. If she hadn’t already agreed to marry Herman, she might consider staying in Hartville. After all, Austin still had another brother who hadn’t yet married. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if she and Jenny could marry brothers?
But she was afraid that she might always be jealous of her sister for snagging Austin first.
“Are you certain you don’t mind waiting here while Jenny and I take a walk?” Austin hated leaving Rebekah by herself, but he had to spend some time alone with Jenny.
“Of course not.” She settled on the bench in front of the Hartville Hotel. “I’ll just sit here and chaperone from a distance.”
“Thank you. We’ll stay in sight so you have no need to worry.”
Rebekah looked him in the eye. “I don’t think I’d ever have to be concerned about Jenny’s welfare when she is with you.”
Her compliment made Austin’s chest swell. “That’s mighty kind of you to say so.”
She smiled, and for half a heartbeat, he wished she were the one he was escorting about town. He flung that thought from his mind and held out his arm to Jenny. She hesitated for a brief moment before looping hers through his. As they started off, Jenny glanced back at her sister.
“She’ll be fine there. No one is likely to bother her.” No one except for some of the cowboys who came to town in the evening to visit one of the saloons. He’d keep his eye on Rebekah to make sure nothing happened to her. “What do you think of our little town?”
“I knew the town was named after your family, but I didn’t know about the hotel. It must be difficult to always have people staring at you because you’re part of a famous family.”
“I guess I’m used to it.” He probably ought to tell her that the folks in the restaurant had stared because he was with two pretty women—strangers to town—and they were speculating if one of them was to be his bride. Everyone in town and the surrounding counties had probably heard about his pa’s ultimatum by now.
He gritted his teeth, wishing his pa had never come up with his cockamamie plan, but then again, without it, he might never have gotten around to marrying. The idea was slowly growing on him, especially with a pretty gal by his side. Still, he wished she’d show more excitement about marrying him. “Can I ask how you decided to become a mail-order bride?”
Jenny’s gaze flicked toward his, and if he wasn’t mistaken, concern laced them. What did she have to fear from him? “As I told you at lunch, my aunt died.”
He tried to figure out what that had to do with her choice to marry, but he failed to make a connection. He nodded at Ted Arnold passing by in his wagon and noticed how Ted’s eyes latched on to Jenny.
After walking past several stores, Jenny looked her sister’s way. He did also to make sure she was still all right.
Jenny exhaled a loud sigh. “I don’t suppose there’s any reason not to tell you the truth.”
Austin’s heart clenched. One thing he couldn’t abide was a liar. Had Jenny not been honest with him about some of the things she wrote in her letters? Why else would she mention telling the truth?
“My aunt didn’t have a lot of money.” Jenny started wringing her hands and looked away. “In fact, we found out recently that she hadn’t made any payments on her mortgage in several months. We got a notice that the bank is repossessing the house at the end of the month.”
“And you have nowhere else to go?”
She nodded.
So he was her last option. The thought shouldn’t disappoint him since he was being forced to marry, too, but it did. He’d seen the way his brother’s wives looked at them with a twinkle in their eyes and unmistakable love. He and Jenny had barely met, but he had somehow unknowingly begun to hope for a woman who could love him. Maybe it would come in time, but if he were a betting man, he’d say his odds were low based on how Jenny was treating him. If only he knew something about wooing a woman. Flirting with one. Asking his younger brothers for advice just seemed wrong.
They came to the end of town and circled around, heading back toward the hotel. Jenny had yet to ask him anything. “Do you have any questions you’d like to ask?”
She shrugged, and was quiet a little longer, then she asked, “What’s your house like?”
“Big.” He chuckled. “There’s a parlor as well as a library. Large kitchen with a separate dining room. Lots of bedrooms.” He thought about mentioning the indoor washroom but didn’t think it would be polite conversation.